Table



Feb. 14, 1961 w. M. SHOFFNER 2,971,656

TABLE Filed April 50, 1959 FIG-i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIE M.SHOFFNER BY wwmyz ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1961 w. M. SHOFFNER i TABLE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1959 INVENTOR. WILLIE M. SHOFFNER wwwyaATTORNEYS United States Patent TABLE Willie M. Shoifner, Dayton, Ohio,assignor to The Fogarty Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Apr. '30, 1959, Ser. No; 810,162

8 Claims. (Cl. 211-141) This invention pertains to tables and moreparticularly to produce display tables.

Tables for use by grocery stores for the display of fresh fruits andvegetables are commonly called dump tables by reason of the practice ofdumping the produce from a basket or bag onto the surface of the table.Accordingly, a table for this service must have strength to withstanduneven loading. At the same time, it is desirable that produce on thetable be readily accessible, and that it be light in weight in orderthat it may be readily employed at various positions throughout thestore. Also, it is preferable that produce display tables be adaptablefor either wet or dry service, and when used for wet service withcooling ice, the table should be provided with a sloping surface and adrain for the removal of the accumulated water.

These and other advantages are provided by the table of this inventionwhich has a detachable upper portion including a generally circularstressed table body of sheet material with a peripheral portion raisedin relation to its center. A drain is provided at the center for theremoval of accumulated water, and a circumferential retaining rim isfixed to the periphery of the table with at least a portion of the rimextending above the table surface for the retention of produce dumped onthe table. A lower portion of the table includes a generally circularskirt for the support of the upper unit.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a produce tableas outlined above characterized by strength and light weight andadaptable for use with cooling ice.

A further object of this invention is to provide a table as outlinedabove having a table body of sheet material having a periphery instressed elevated relation to its center providing for the support ofproduce thereon and for the drainage to the center of water from meltingcooling ice.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a table body asoutlined above made of sheet material, and a circumferential retainingrim fixed in sealing relation to the table body with at least a portionof the rim extended above the table surface for the retention of produceand accumulated water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings 3 Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the table of thisinvention including the shelf supporting standard and the banana treeattached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross sectional view showing the details of thetable with the standard removed;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the upper portion of the table showing thereinforcing arms and the arrangement for draining water from the surfaceof the table;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 3 with the posi tion of the upperring of the skirt being shown in broken outline;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross section through the tubular reinforcing membershowing a fragment of the supporting standard and the water drainopenings;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragment of a portion of Fig. 2 showing thesealing arrangement of the table top at the retaining rim;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the supporting standard showing thedetails of the shelf and a fragment of the banana tree support;

Fig. 8 is a section through the standard looking generally along line 88of Fig. 7 showing the relation of the shelf supporting flanges on theshelf mounting top; and

Fig. 9 is another section through the standard looking generally alongline 99 of Fig. 7 showing the clamp for positioning the shelf on thestandard.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, a table is shown generally at 10 as including a removableupper portion 11 supported on a generally cylindrical skirt or base 12extended to the floor 13. The table 10 preferably includes a standard 15for the support thereon of shelving in spaced relation to the upperportion 11, including a circular shelf 16 and a banana tree 17.

Referring to the details of the upper portion in Fig. 2, a centraltubular reinforcing member 20 has a plurality of outwardly extendingupwardly inclined reinforcing arms 21 each secured thereto at an innerend 22 in radially spaced relation. The arms 21 are preferably formed offiat bar stock and have inner ends 22 cut at an angle to provide anupward inclination when secured, as by welding, to the member 20. Theouter ends 23 of the arms 21 are bevel cut for the purpose of centeringthe skirt 12 in relation to the upper portion 11 of the table.

A generally circular table top 25 formed of sheet material such asstainless steel includes a circumferentially turned down lip 26 and acentrally disposed opening 27. The top 25 is fixed to the arms 21 withthe opening 27 over the member 20 in a flexed condition in conformitywith the incline of the arms 21 by means of welding, as indicatedgenerally at 28 in Fig. 4. This provides for the stressed elevation ofthe lip 26 of the top 25 in relation to the reinforcing member 20.

Wall means for the table is provided by a circumferential rim 30 ofsheet material fixed, as by welding, in sealing relation to the top 25at the lip 26 with at least a portion of the rim 30 extended above thetop 25 for the retention of produce and water on the table 10. Anelastomeric extruded guard 31 is provided to assist in sealing the rim30 to the lip 26, and to provide protection for produce and personnelagainst accident or injury. The guard 31 includes a generallycylindrical upper portion 32 which is partially notched to slide downover the upper edge of the rim 30, and a depending wall 33 which servesas a liner for the portion of the inside surface of the rim 36 extendingabove the top 25. The wall 33 is terminated in a thickened foot portion34 (Fig. 6) which may be secured to the top 25 by any suitable adhesive.Also, the lip 26 may be sealed at the rim 30 by a suitablemetal-to-metal sealing compound 36 as a precaution against leakage.

The table of this invention is suitable for the display of iced, orspray cooled, fresh produce and to this end drain means are provided forremoving the accumulated water from the surface of the table. Thestressed elevation of the lip 26 in relation to the tubular reinforcingmember 20 not only provides strength and resistance to bending but alsoprovides an inwardly sloping table surface for the efiicient removal ofaccumulated water through the member 20.

The member 29 is internally threaded at 38 for the acceptance of athreaded bottom 39 of the supporting standard 15, as shown in Fig. 5. Incase the additional shelving provided by the standard 15 is not desired,a plug 40 may be inserted into the member 2% in place of the standard15, as shown in Fig. 2. The plug it? and the standard 15 are providedwith drain openings 42 and 42 drilled adjacent the top 25 forcommunication with the interior of the member 29. A pipe adapter 43 isthreaded into the bottom of the member 20, and an elbow 44 and a lengthof straight pipe 45 connecting to a drain faucet 4-5 are arranged toextend to the outside of the skirt 12. The pipe 45 is supported by ahanger strap 43 extended fromthe pipe 45 to one of the arms 21.

Annular reinforcing rings 51} and 51 formed of angle iron are welded tothe inside surface at the top and at the bottom of the skirt 12. Theupper ring 50 provides a flat upper surface for engagement with thebottom of the removable upper portionll at the outer ends 23 of the arms21. When so engaged, theupper portion 11 is centered on the skirt 12 asshown in broken outline in Fig. fl. The lower ring 51 provides a meansby which the table it may be supportedon gliders or casters on the floor13 including three equally spaced generally triangula'rly shaped braces53. The braces53 include a flange 54- welded to the inside of the skirt12 and a bottom flange 55' extending inwardly from the skirt i2. Eithercasters 56 or gliders 57, as desired, may be carried on the bottomflange 55 for the support of the skirt 12 above the floor 13. r Thecircular shelf 16 may be of the type described in the copendingapplication of Willie M. Sholfner, Serial No. 651,492, filed April 8,1957, now US. Patent No. 2,915,194granted Dec. 1, 1959; and assigned tothe same lassigne'e as this application. The shelf 16 includes a tube 60which is slidably mounted on the standard 15. A plurality of generallytriangularlyshaped supporting arms 61 are welded to the tube 6t: inextended relation for the support of a circular sheet metal plate as onthe upper edges thereof. The plate 63 has a turned over peripheral edge64 to. which an annular retaining wall 65 is mounted. The shelf 16 maybe moved to position it on the standard 15 by sliding and tightening acompression clamp 67 .over the slitted lower end 63 of he tube 6%. w,The banana tree 17, described in greater detail in the copendingapplication of Willie M. Shoifner, Serial -No. 810,161, filedconcurrently herewith, is mounted on a short section of tubing 79. Thetubing 7t) is arranged to fit into the top of the standard 15 and anadjustable collar 71 may be .vertically positioned on the tubing 70 forabutment against the top of the standard 15; The height of the tree 17above the table may be adjusted by positioning and tightening the collar71 on the tube 70. The operation of the invention is generally apparentfrom the preceding description. The table It). may easily be moved intoany desired position by one person and loaded with produce such as freshfruits and vegetables. If cooling of the produce is desired, ice orwater spray may be added, and the accumulated water may be tappedofl'fromtimeto time at the faucet 46. The additional shelving may beadded when desired by removing the plug 40 from the member 29 andinserting the standard 15. The position of the shelf ldand the tree 17above the table may be remlated by the clamp 67 and the collar 71.

It is therefore seen that table of this invention combines light weightwith strength and-is characterized by -an ability to accessibly displayeither wet or dry produce.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

l. A table adapted for the support and display of produce comprising abase, an upper portion supported on said base including a centralreinforcing member, a

plurality of outwardly extending upwardly inclined reinforcing arms eachsecured at an inner end to said member, a generally circular table topformed of sheet material, means fixing said top to said arms in a flexedcondition in conformity with the incline of said arms to provide for thestressed elevation of the periphery of said top in relation to saidcentral reinforcing member, and a rim fixed in circumferential relationto said top with at least a portion thereof extending above said top forthe retention of produce on said table.

2. A table adapted for the support and display of produce comprising abase, an upper portion supported on said base including a centralreinforcing member, a plurality of outwardly extending upwardly inclinedreinforcing arms each secured at an inner end to said member, agenerally circular table top formed of sheet material having acircumferential turned lip, means fixing said top to said arms in aflexed condition in conformity with the incline of said arms to providefor the stressed elevation of said lip in relation to said centralreinforcing member, and a circumferential rim fixed to said top at saidlip with at least a portion thereof extending above said top for theretention of produce on said table.

3. A wet table adapted for the support and display of iced fresh producecomprising a base, an upper portion supported on said base including atubular reinforcing member, a plurality of outwardly extending upwardlyinclined reinforcin arms each secured at an inner end to said member, atable top formed of sheet material having a circumferential turned lip,means fixing said top to said arms in a flexed condition in conformitywith the incline of said arms to provide for the stressed elevation ofsaid lip in relation to said reinforcing membena circumferential rimfixed in sealing relation to top at said lip with at least a portionthereof extending above said top forthe retention of produce and wateron said table, and drain. meansfor removin accumulated water from thesurface of said table.

4. A wet table adapted for the support and display of iced fresh producecomprising a base, an upper portion supported on said base including acentral reinforcing member, a plurality of outwardly extending upwardlyinclined reinforcing arms each secured at an inner end to said member, agenerally circular table top formed of sheet material having acircumferential turned lip, means fixing said top to said arms in aflexed condition in conthereof extending above said top for theretention of' produce and water on said table, and drain means in saidreinforcing member for removing accumulated water from the surface ofsaid table.

5. A wet table adapted for the support and display of iced fresh producecomprising a base, an upper portion supported on said base including atubular reinforcing member, a plurality of outwardly extending upwardlyinclined reinforcing arms each secured at an inner end to said member, agenerally circular table top formed of sheet material having acircumferential turned lip, means fixing said top to said arms in aiexed condition in conformity with the incline of said arms to providefor the stressed elevation of said lip in relation to said centralreinforcing member, a circumferential rim fixed in sealing relation tosaid top at said lip with at least a portion thereof extending abovesaid top for the retention of produce and water on said table, a shelfsupporting standard threaded into said member for extensionsubstantially normal to said top for the support of shelving in spacedrelation to produce on said top, and drain openings in said standard forremoving accumulated water from the surface of said table.

.6. A table adapted for the support and display of aevmee producecomprising a central reinforcing member, a pinrality of radiallyextending upwardly inclined reinforcing arms each secured at an innerend to said member, a generally circular table top of greater radialdimension than said arms formed of sheet material, means fixing said topto said arms in a flexed condition in conformity with the incline ofsaid arms to provide for the stressed elevation of the periphery of saidtop in relation to said central reinforcing member, circumferential wallmeans fixed to said top with at least a portion thereof extending abovesaid top for the retention of produce on said table, and a generallycylindrical skirt arranged for supporting engagement with the undersideof said top between said members and said wall means.

7. In a display table, the combination comprising a base, a removableupper portion supported on said base having a central reinforcingmember, a plurality of outwardly extending upwardly inclined reinforcingarms being connected at their inner ends to said member, a generallycircular sheet metal table top, and means fixing said top to said armsin a flexed condition in conformity with the incline of said arms toprovide for the stressed elevation of the periphery of said top withrespect to its center.

8. A display table comprising a base, a removable upper portion mountedon said base including a tubular reinforcing member, a plurality ofoutwardly extending upwardly inclined reinforcing arms each secured atan inner end to said member, a generally circular table top formed ofsheet material having a circumferential turned lip, means fixing saidtop to said arms in a flexed condition in conformity with the incline ofsaid arms to provide for the stressed elevation of said lip in relationto said member, a circumferential rim fixed to said top at said lip withat least a portion thereof extending above said top for the retention ofgoods on said table, and a shelf supporting standard threaded into saidmember for extension substantially normal to said top for the support ofshelving in spaced relation to said top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,863,597 Handelan June 21, 1932 1,965,850 Melton July 10, 19342,656,592 Cataldo Oct. 27, 1953 2,762,513 Zaninovich Sept. 11, 19562,849,792 Wiggins Sept. 2, 1958

